Tag Archives: Communication

Senior Players will require patience and understanding just the same as juniors. A key difference is that personalities can be a lot bolder and stronger (Photo Source: USAG- Humphreys)

Many coaches can easily observe the relationships between coaches and senior players through the media. Even if an individual has never coached in this environment, a simple scroll through any sports news website or quick look at the sports section of a paper will reveal numerous examples of the difficulties faced by those in these positions. Challenges such as money, playing time, opportunity and clashes in philosophy are just some of the more common reasons sighted for conflict that can lead to a dysfunctional team, and in turn, a poor season as a result of underperforming.

The difficulties in managing senior players as they move from a junior mentality to the distractions of being their own person can be difficult because of the unique situation many players find themselves in. In small team sports such as basketball, players can come from very different backgrounds and have followed a great variety of different paths to reach their current position. This means different values and the importance placed upon different aspects of a relations for each individual.

There are however a few points which may help identify possible problems earlier so small issues can be dealt with before they become big problems, or it might be just a case of having more time to deal with these issues allowing cooler heads to prevail instead of heated words and emotions getting the better of everyone involved.

One situation that helps create a basis for dialogue is to have an opportunity for players to speak with a coach. We are not talking about during training sessions, but maybe before or after training and in some cases away from the court completely. If a player feels that there is an opportunity to talk, this might be the catalyst that is needed in allowing a player to come forward and clear the air of any issue they maybe experiencing.

Always respond to a player in a respectful and honest manner. Too many times one person behaving badly is often seen as justification for both individuals involved in conflict to act poorly. This does not have to be the case. Players because of the physicality of sport and emotional drive often needed at senior levels lose their ability to exercise perfect judgement. By displaying greater character in these situations, coaches have an opportunity to later reflect on the situation with the player and discuss how to better handle this situation next time.

Define the issue. Many of the earlier mentioned problems to do with how a team functions are very similar to those of junior athletes. Except at the senior level, there is often more at stake such as career opportunities. This makes the stakes all the more higher and a coach must respond with a more defined and well throughout reasoning when questioned about their philosophy, selections and strategies. This will happen for most coaches as they develop into the mould of a senior coach, however, having a philosophy, and being able to articulate it are often two very different things. Especially when confronted with a senior player who is less likely to just accept a reason without it making sense to them.

Understand the hierarchy within the team environment. Rookies or junior players entering into a senior team will have a different set of needs and experience different challenges to those of more established or veteran players. In a team all players will play a role, understanding though the individual’s needs, wants, strengths and weaknesses will allow a coach to truly get the most out of each individual without risking the stability of the group by making obvious exceptions to behaviour or expectations. Having the ability to explain a message to new players on their level, while selling the ideal to the established players, and then planting the seed for leaders of the group to adopt this philosophy is where the real skill is at.

The journey for each of the senior players within a team is different. Many stories sound the same, but it is these little differences, the side stories and experiences that help build a real connection with individuals that facilitates trust and goodwill. For senior players these can be the difference between leaving and staying within a team environment even though some things are not to their absolute liking.

In every single training session at least at one stage or another, you will hear a coach emphasise the importance of communication. Communication is always one of the skills most spoken about by coaches to their players and amongst other coaches. One point of note though is a lack of clarity on exactly what a coach would like their players to say. It seems that for all the effort that goes into improving this aspect of defence, there is a shortfall with the specific detail of exactly what needs to be said.

Most players will determine some sort of consistency in their communication with verbal cues such as “Ball”, “Help” and “Screen”. However, there is so much more to be discussed on the floor when playing defence. Having a simple, yet specific group of verbal cues can help significantly in making the communication between players more effective and efficient.

It is common for defenders to repeat the different key words they have while on defence to help improve the understanding of what they are saying. This is always a debatable point. How many times should a defender repeat what they communicating? Is there any improvement in calling Ball three times compared to once? There are of course reasons for favouring both points. One stipulation is to ensure communication is always loud and clear. Players should think of always communicating with purpose, and this purpose is to let their teammates know what they are doing and what is happening on the floor from their perspective. In a basketball game for this communication to be effective, it must be loud. This will need to be practiced and feedback given to players on the volume of their communication and how appropriate it is for the game situation.

Below is a list of some of these cues to implement within a team. While the specific language may differ between countries or programs, what is important is that these terms form the basis upon which to build greater detail in communication between defenders.

Ball

Probably the most utilised verbal cue is “Ball”. Ball is used to communicate when a player is closing out or guarding the ball handler. Ball is one of the few verbal cues that it is suggested to be repeated multiple times while on defence. This is because all players will need to be aware of where the ball is and move accordingly no matter whether they are guarding the ball or in a help position.

A common standard is for the verbal cue of Ball to be repeated three times.

Help Left/Right

There are two contexts for when “Help” can be utilised. The first is for those players off the ball who move into a help position for the on-ball defender. Depending on which side of the on-ball defender they are they will communicate either Help Left or Help Right. This communication is used as a way of letting their teammate know that they are willing and able to provide assistance in defence.

The second context is if the on-ball defender realises they have been beat on the dribble. Calling Help in this situation is really about triggering the off the ball defender rotations as early as possible so they can assist and limit the possible advantage generated by the offensive player.

In the Diagram Above Four (4) is the player in the “Split Line” position. The communication of Split Line in this scenario is to let defenders One (1) and Three (3) know there is help towards the baseline should they be beaten.

Split line

“Split Line” refers to the position a player assumes along the split line of the court. The usual position that triggers this verbal cue is when a defender is positioned on the front of the basket. This position is usually one the first rotations to happen in helping a teammate that has been beaten baseline from the wing position.

In the half court, this player would be looking to rotate so to stop the offensive player from ever entering the keyway when dribbling baseline.

Cutter Left/Right

One of the lesser utilised verbal cues is “Cutter”. Best used by players who are two or three passes away from the ball this allows for the defence to start to define where offensive players are moving. The defender will communicate that there is a cutter moving to the left or right of their teammate with the statement “Cutter Moving Left Sam”.

In some instances, the offensive player’s position on the court will only be communicated. For example “Cutter Left” or “Cutter to the Low Post”. The problem with this form of communication is that it does not draw any specific person’s attention to the fact of where the threat is. By adding a name to the communication, it lets the teammate know that they need to be aware of this situation.

Screen Left/Right

The “Screen” cue helps tell a teammate they are about to be screened. In some circumstances, a defensive player will not see the screener until contact is just about to be made. So communication is vital to ensure no advantage (or as little as possible) is obtained by the offense. Off the ball defenders must be very active in using these verbal cues to help those closer to the action become aware of when the screening tactic is being employed. Like with the cutter cue, screening is best communicated by those defenders two or three passes away from the ball. These defenders will have the biggest view of the court the unfolding the offense.

The communication again should highlight not only that a screen is about to happen, but to what side it is and the name of the defensive player who is about to be screened.

Shot

Another common cue is “Shot”. The obvious reason for calling Shot is to let teammates know that a shot has been taken by the offense. This should trigger the defenders on the floor to start to move into rebounding positions and find an offensive player to box-out.

Shot should be communicated before the ball has been released by the offensive player. Typically, this is done when the shooter is in the air and just about to release the ball. This will provide the maximum amount of time for a defensive team to move into position for the rebounding contest.

Box-Out

“Box” or “Box-Out” is another option that can be used as a way of triggering a response from the defence to move into a rebounding position. All players on defence would communicate this cue every time they hear the call of “Shot”.

A better option though then using the term Box-Out is for players to associate Shot with triggering them to boxing out on defence. In this situation less communication is better, and with the Shot call being made that little bit sooner by the person guarding the ball handler it will provide some additional time for defenders to move or create an advantageous rebounding position.

There are a number of additional cues that can be employed by a team to help with refining a half-court defence. Whatever the cue used, it must be used by everyone and have consistency in application as well as a universal meaning to the team. Otherwise, players a just speaking without any purpose or benefit to their teammates…

A Team Manager is really the most important person within a program. The Team Manager makes all the logistics that go into the behind the scenes and just general running of a program come together. For many coaches however relying on a single person so much can be challenging and in many ways be difficult as their relationship is one of being a peer unlike all others within the team setting where the coach is the leader in many instances.

This difference in relationship can mean that there are some special challenges faced when working with a Team Manager unlike any other person. So with the added weight of the responsibility around this position, it can be quite challenging in some ways for a coach to get the most from the Team Manager especially if there are issues that arise throughout the course of a season. Below are some simple ways a coach can go about building a good foundation so when issues do arise they can be dealt with, worked out and moved through as quickly as possible.

Providing a checklist for a Team Manager is a really good way of communicating what things need to get done (Photo Source: Oregon Department of Transportation)

Communication

Probably the most common issue around the Team Manager position is communication. Either too much, or not enough in some instances. No matter the concern the most beneficial approach is to talk through the expectations around action associated with communication that the coach would like to see happen. Being clear about what type of communication should happen, and when, is a very common frustration experienced by coaches.

It is worth noting that some Team Manager will prefer to use different methods of communication as opposed to others. Understanding that a different form of communication does not necessarily mean a less satisfactory outcome is also important to realise. It should always be discussed however with a team what their preference is in receiving information. For some people the best form of communication is a direct call.

Training Sessions

Training sessions like each different activity a team is involved with will have a unique set of demands for a Team Manager. Not every coach will operate in the same way. Some coaches for instance see a training session as being very much their time to hold court and so therefore do not really need a Team Manager to attend (especially in junior development teams). This situation however often changes as players’ progress into representative programs or older age groups. Then the expectations can be quite different with coaches also expecting the Team Manager to bring certain skills like strapping to the range of services provided in support of a team. If a Team Manager does not have these skills then sometimes formal training will be required.

Game Day Preparations

On Game Day, most coaches will have a preference as to how they would like the days schedule to come together. How long before a game should players arrive, how is the room to be set-up for the team meeting and when should players be dressed are just a sample of the different points which need to be communicated between a coach and the Team Manager. Taking the time to discuss these matters in detail can avoid any issues from happening.

As a coach it is probably worth noting here that sometimes preferences will change and situations will demand an alternative strategy. Always be mindful of discussing these changes in need with a Team Manager so they are always kept in the loop.

A Team Manager is a very valuable asset to the operations of any team or program. The common mistake made is that often coaches just assume that how they want things done, is how everybody does them.

Poor Passing and Receiving stifles a team’s offense and is a common cause of frustration between players on the court (Photo Source: AliHanlon)

Passing and Receiving is a vital area of concern for any coach involved in basketball, and to a larger extent sports such as Netball. Passing and receiving form the most utilised fundamental offensive skills within basketball. Therefore, the ability for a player to be able to perform this action is going to be vital in how well a team is able to function overall during its offensive possessions.

There are some common problems to be aware of though, especially for those coaches involved during the developmental phases of a player’s skill growth.

Toes, Nose and Fingers

When executing a pass one of the simplest skills to help a player ensure that their pass results in the greatest accuracy possible, is to focus on that the payer is consistent in three areas of their technique. The first is to have a player always stepping towards their intended target. This helps generate momentum and guarantees a player is lining up their passing lane to the intended receiver as accurately as possible from the ground up.

Secondly, a player should have good sight of the intended target. This will help with the judgement in regards to force needed, but also provide a greater range of vision to see defenders. This teaching point asks that the passers nose points to the intended receiver.

Finally, a passer should utilise a full follow through of the pass finishing with their fingers pointing towards the intended receiver. This will see the last point of contact with the ball pushing towards the target.

Calling Names

A very simple teaching point which can have a dramatic effect on a team’s passing and receiving is improving the communication between players on the court. A passer should always call the name of the player they are passing to, while the receiver should be mirroring the name of the passer. This ensures both players are signalling they are ready and their intentions within the action.

For developing players this teaching point alone will save three or four loose balls a game from passes being made to unsuspecting or not ready teammates.

No Target Hands

Target hands for a receiver help the passer know where their teammate wants the ball. It also shows the passer that the receiver is ready for the pass to be made. A receiver that does not carry their hands to provide a target will always have to work that little bit harder to move into position for the pass. This additional challenge of quicken the reaction needed by the receiver unfortunately in a fast moving games might not be possible and so poor catching position and ultimately loose balls are created.

Not Running through the Line of the Ball

A player who pulls their movement up short and tries to use their arms to over extended to make a catch is not running through the line of the ball. When passing and receiving is working well, the passer will pass the ball out in front of the receiver in the direction of where the intended receiver is heading. This allows the receiver to run onto the ball and not have to slow down.

When a receiver pulls up early to catch a ball they provide an opportunity for the defence to continue on and possibly deflect or steal the ball by sliding through the passing lane. By running through this passing lane, the receiver does not give this opportunity to the defender resulting in a better pass reception more frequently.

Low Stance, Low Centre of Gravity

Struggling to generate power on a pass or loosing balance after making a catch are two very common symptoms of when players fail to assume a low stance. Lowering the centre of gravity helps with balance and this is especially important when passing as in a low stance larger muscle groups from the legs and hips can be activated to help generate power and force into the pass. This principle works in reverse for a receiver, as by being in a low stance during reception of a pass these same muscle groups help stop a player’s momentum, pivot to change direction and then explode to the desired area with greater speed and power.

Passing and receiving are obviously vital skills. Good habits can be created very easily by taking the time to instil the good technical points discussed above during the developmental phase.

If being aggressive on defence, sometimes players will not see the set-up for the on-ball screen. So communication off the ball becomes even more vital. (Photo Source: J R)

The On-Ball Screen is one of the most widely used tactics for gain an offensive advantage in the modern game of basketball. In Europe, the on-ball screen is used on the perimeter to create long range shooting opportunities, while in North and South America the on-ball screen is utilised to create driving lanes and miss-matches. No matter the desired effect, defending the on-ball screen must be worked at relentlessly to try to extinguish any offensive advantage.

There are a number of different problems which are commonly seen in how team’s attempt to defend an on-ball screen. Some of these come down to correcting technique and others will be about looking at how the offense is using an on-ball screen and trying to take away the most desired option from this strategy and so force other secondary options to be taken.

Communication

As with all things on defence, the first place to often start is with the team’s communication. Screen the screener actions as well as sprinting to screen have become very commonplace in the build up to setting an on-ball screen. Both of these scenarios (as well as an on-ball screen normally) require the defender guarding the screener to communicate, early, clearly and with purpose.

It is suggested that when the screen defender sees the set-up for the on-ball screen that they communicate that there is a screen occurring and to what side it is of the on-ball defender. For example, a defender matched up against an offensive player setting an on-ball screen to the left of the on-ball defender would call “Screen Left, Screen Left”. Repeating the call helps ensure the message is received and the purpose of the communication is understood.

Feel for the Screen

Another useful tactic to help in defending the on-ball screen is for the on-ball defender to extend their arm closest to the screen so they feel where the screen is before the desired contact of the screener is made. For obvious reasons (like causing an offensive foul) the on-ball defender cannot push the screen, but by feeling where the screen is they should be able to gain some additional space within which to adjust their movement and reduce the effectiveness of the screen.

This tactic in some cases will cause the screener to move or adjust to try to create further advantage. This of course then sees the offensive player moving and this heightens the risk of a moving screen being called on the offense.

Define a Strategy

When defending an on-ball screen there are a few different strategies from which to choose. These are going over the screen, under the screen, switching and doubling. There are different variations within each for these, but these four options form the basis for the majority of the common defensive strategies. As a team there needs to be an agreed tactic chosen and utilised by everyone. Having one player not on the same page while on the court can result in very easy scoring opportunities for the opposition.

Just because one strategy is selected initially does not mean that others cannot be employed throughout the game in adjusting to what the offense is doing. This adjustment though requires a team to be well drill in all variations of how the team is likely to defend the on-ball screen.

Another option to vary the defensive strategy is to change how the on-ball screen is defended depending on the amount of time on the shot clock. This can be very effective in testing which tactic is working or just changing the rhythm by which the offense must play the two-man game.

Defending the on-ball screen is a mandatory element of the game of basket. Most teams utilise the on-ball screen within their offense at least in some capacity. So needing to deal with this issue is a non-negotiable. Taking a few moments to implement the options discussed above can make a real difference and help limit the offensive production of a team’s opposition.